The Government has revealed it has offered fertilizer plant Incitec Pivot to buy 10.3 hectares of land and relocate to the east of the Grand Trunkway, near the Baker Inlet, in order to proceed with its plans to build more apartments in the Port.
The Government wants to relocate the company from the Port because concerns about the risk of an explosion at the plant have hampered development at Dock One.
According to the article on News.com.au, the company has nine months to decide on the offer to move to a new site in Gillman. The Government refused to disclose any details with regards to the cost of the land, citing commercial confidence.
The deal was part of the State Government’s $15 million purchase of Incitec’s site in Francis St, Port Adelaide, which was signed in January.
The proposed new site for the plant is not part of the 400 ha of land at Gillman that the Government gave a consortium exclusive right to in December to create a mining service hub.
A spokesman for the State Government body Renewal SA revealed that Incitec had until the end of the year to decide whether it wanted to buy the Gillman land.
“They’ve been given nine months for that, but nothing is set in stone,” the spokesman said.
Incitec Pivot Chief Operating Officer James Whiteside said the company was still in the process of finding a suitable site.
“It is important that we find the right site to ensure we continue in an area that is suitable for our activities and that meets the needs of South Australian farmers,” Mr Whiteside said.
Incitec Pivot has a three-year lease from the State Department on its site at Port Adelaide, with the option for three more years.
Port Adelaide Enfield Mayor Gary Johanson said it would be good to keep Incitec Pivot’s nine full-time jobs in the council area and move the fertilizer plant out of the inner harbour.
According to him, if the company moves to Gillman, a “containment zone” might be needed to protect other businesses from the threat of explosion.
Ray White Port Adelaide principal Nick Psarros said the announcement that Incitec was moving had instigated great interest among investors for land in Port Adelaide.
“Things have picked up— the public has welcomed that news,” Mr Psarros said.
